Holy Ground

Here in the sanctuary. 

Seeing, finding, and preparing to share. 

Look, listen, and love. 

This place is holy ground.

And every morning, I find my way here. I enter this sanctuary and come to this altar where I spend time in solitude, silence, and stillness. However, if you were to see me at this moment, you might think I’m just a guy sitting in a room, working on at a desk. But you would be mistaken. This is a sacred space. Not because I declared it, but because I have recognized it to be, and because it always has been.

There is no space that does not hold the Holy Presence and Great Mystery that is Life and that is God. So as I sit here, I am fully aware that I don’t do anything to make this ground holy. The way I see it, all of creation is an altar where we commune with the Divine, whether we recognize it or not.  

I'm not sure when I began thinking about this particular space as a sacred, but I love that image of “entering in” to this holy ground with humility and reverence. In faith, with hope, and for love. For communion and connection with Something much bigger than myself. I’m almost shaking right now as I pause to take that in and hold that image. 

Several passages from Romans 8 resonate with me, but this morning, the statement that gives me chills is that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God. And here, in this sanctuary, at this altar, I am seeing this love. I am finding this love. I am preparing to share this love. 

Today, I will have hundreds of opportunities to share this love. Offered to me. The altar may feel like a place of giving, but it is much more a place of receiving. And in this abundance of love poured out on us, we have no other possible response but to pour out that love on those around us. How? By looking and by listening. By seeing this holy ground that surrounds. This sacred space, this love of God, that we cannot escape.

May we see these opportunities to participate in the great love today. Receiving and giving. Here. In this holy ground of all creation. Today. Starting right now. Amen. And amen.